NAS Pensacola, FL

Navy/Marine/ Coast Guard
& Air Force API Gouge

API class 27-02 (Spring 2002)
at Naval Aviation Schools Command, NAS Pensacola, FL
NASC

GOUGE HOME | OCS | API | PRIMARY & INT. | ADVANCED HELO | SH-60B FRS / RAG | HSL-51 | Defense Language Institute | PEP Germany | Pacific Partnership 2012 - COMDESRON 7  [ Homepage ]

February-May 2002 (next: Primary Flight Training in Corpus Christi, TX)

Forever stashed waiting for APIBefore going to Corpus, I went to API (Aviation Preflight Indoctrination) at NAS Pensacola, FL under NASC (Naval Aviation Schools Command). There, I was part of class 27-02 for 6 weeks, studied several subjects and underwent some fun and/or arduous indoctrination training, where believe it or not, many guys fail out. If you make it through this, you will be in the twentieth percentile (About 80% of others have failed to get where you will be after API*) * This was my experience looking around at guys from signing to OCS to API). Be sure and study hard - even though API grades are not counted for final selection. Here is some Gouge to help you through API (some I painstakingly wrote myself).

  1. Limitations - This will help you through all the classes... MS Word XPLimits, ranges, etc
  2. Aerodynamics I: MS Word XPQ&A, MS Word XPReview
  3. Aerodynamics II: MS Word XPQ&A, MS Word XPReview, MS Word XPStudy Questions, MS Word XPSupplemental
  4. Engines: MS Word XPCoastie Engines Gouge
  5. Weather: MS Word XPWeather Gouge, MS Word XPExam Gouge-Capt. Sadler only, MS Word XPCoastie Goods, MS Word XPStudy Questions
  6. Navigation: MS Word XP"The Only one you need", MS Word XPBlank Jet Logs
  7. F.R.&R Flight Rules & Regulations: MS Word XP FRR Gouge

After that, you'll get dunked in the new HELO dunker (The Dilbert dunker is now retired at the Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola in favor of the new, "much-more-dificult-to-escape-than-a-jet" Helicopter dunker). After getting dunked a few times, you'll get the rest of the day off to get that rust & chlorine out of your head. Later on, if you select HELOs (a 70+% chance), you will go back to the HELO Dunker every 2 years.

Following the dunker, you'll get physiology classes, go to the spin & puke, experience vertigo, experience extreme eye testing, get Jump, PLF/Parachute training. Best of all, when you complete the classes you'll get all new flight gear, including 4 flight suits and the famous leather flight jacket! Of course, the flight suits will be wrinkled and full of I.P.'s you'll have to take out. And by the way, don't wear the leather jacket with your flight suit-that's why the NOMEX jacket is provided. (Do you want sheepskin burning onto your neck?) Also, if people ask you about shining your flight boots, it's REQUIRED- there's a MILPERSMAN or NAVPERSMAN out there that explains it. The same goes for wearing only cotton undergarments and black high-top socks. Get in the habit of wearing your dog tags, too. You'll fail your initial NATOPS checkride if you show up without them on.

Be prepared to get orders to your Primary squadron on the last day, the day of "certification". I recommend getting housing and your HHG move taken care of way before that day.

Be proactive getting a place to live for Primary, especially if you're NOT going to Whiting Field. I recommend sharing a 2-3 bedroom with the smartest guys in your class-have that arranged way before you leave API. When you arrive for Primary, you'll have about 1 day to move in, get settled, and get a calm study place to prep for your classes & flights. You'll have an exam on the FIRST FRIDAY after arrival-the first exam that is recorded in your permanent flight jacket. You need to be prepared. If you thought API was tough, you'll have a really hard time in Primary, and then even worse in Advanced, and then in the FRS/RAG..etc...etc..

(More in the Links section)

If you need leave, and/or want Househunting leave, here is a digital version of the Navy Special Request Chit:
Adobe PDF Special Request Chit, 05-96 with digital input for printout / Adobe PDF Special Request Chit, 09-75 (the version currenly in use)

Thanks for all the requests to help offset the cost of running the website. It costs about $180/year to host it and averages over 34,000 downloads per month with over 2.3 Terabytes downloaded from December 2001 to December 2008. As per your suggestions, here is a Donation button for use with Paypal for your convenience. . Thanks

GOUGE HOME | OCS | API | PRIMARY & INT. | ADVANCED HELO | SH-60B FRS / RAG | HSL-51 | Defense Language Institute | PEP Germany | Pacific Partnership 2012 - COMDESRON 7  [ Homepage ]

DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this page is to be used only to assist Student Naval, Marine, Coast Guard Aviators and U.S. Air Force Student Pilots. It is by no means meant to replace or supercede the knowledge presented in NATOPS, OPNAV 3710.7T, Flight Training Instructions, FLIPS, or any other official Navy, Marine, Coast Guard or U.S. Air Force publication. Knowledge of these documents is considered paramount to flight safety. Any unauthorized use of the information on this page in an actual flight (without reference to the official publication) is strictly prohibited. Viewing web pages listed above constitutes acceptance of all responsibility for flight safety by you, the user. The author of this page assumes no responsibility for the completeness of these documents or their use in Aviation training.

If you find discrepencies in the information here, please contact me. This is NOT an official Navy web site. All opinions and statements are exclusively those of the authors and do not reflect the views of the Department of Defense, The United States Navy, The United States Marine Corps, The United States Coast Guard or the The United States Air Force.

Last updated: 9 July, 2008 0:37 by Bryan Weatherup